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These undergraduate and graduate students are making the most of their UW experience. They join 27 other UW Tacoma students (many who are now alumni) from 2016, 2017 and 2018. What all 33 have in common is that they know education happens inside and outside the classroom. They are making a difference on campus, in their communities and for the future.

Katalina Biondi

“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution….” These wise words from Aristotle have driven my success at the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT). I am passionate about connecting the knowledge I learn at UWT to applications to benefit my community. Through UWT, I am a student, a facilitator, a Senator, a researcher, and a registered student organization leader.

Mira Farrow

As a native Washingtonian, first-gen scholar, feminist and transgender activist and writer, UW provided the platform to engage in meaningful interdisciplinary scholarship that makes use of several of the siloed disciplines. Opportunities for campus and community interactions led to co-organizing UW Tacoma’s first ever Pride event and Transgender Day of Remembrance. This community-engaged scholarship provided a rich trove of stories, and also build ongoing relationships within the trans community.

Isabell Murray

During my time at UW, I have been able to pursue leadership roles in both of my passions: law and criminal justice reform. As a local Miss America titleholder, I established my platform #KidsNotCriminals, which was largely inspired by my thesis on mass incarceration through the Global Honors Program. I currently serve as the President of the Pre-Law Society, promoting events that spark conversations regarding incarceration. I plan to become a defense attorney, advocating for those most affected.

Norma Purdom

Lakewood, Washington
MSW, Social Work

As a Latina immigrant and first-generation student, my passion has always been to empower vulnerable communities. Following my mother’s words “Si se Puede” (“Yes, You Can”), I took the challenge to pursue higher education. I can proudly say that UW Tacoma embraced me into their campus family and helped me discover my potential. As a Husky 100, I intend to continue to inspire and empower students and be a bridge they can cross that illuminates their path and helps achieve goals and dreams.

Ashley Richards

As an undergraduate student, finding outlets of involvement that aligned with my passions was a challenge at first, but during my sophomore year I found my place of belonging and knew that UW Tacoma was my forever home away from home. As I approach graduation and prepare to go into a career in community development and planning, my Husky experience influences my decision to continue my education to a global scale and serve others throughout my future career.

Long Tran

As the son of a Vietnam War immigrant and refugee, my disconnection with Vietnamese culture catalyzed my social justice-oriented work in academia and Hollywood to confront the U.S. history of Asian exclusion from media, politics, and “American” identity. I leave my undergraduate career as an award-winning scholar, critically-acclaimed filmmaker, president of the Film Club, future graduate student in media studies, and founder of the Vietnamese Student Association after a five-year absence.